I've got three double page spreads across my desk - the first experiments and
finished artwork for Happy Hens. No matter how much I plan, re-think and am
absolutely sure of the direction I'm heading, I often end of changing things as
I go from my sketches to the finished drawing. When I do the dummy, it's almost
like a cartoon - I can exaggerate and toss out ideas. Then when I go to paint on
the final pages, I often reevaluate my work.

For all of the young artists, would you like me to share a device that I use
for checking a drawing. Look at your work in a mirror! It's like seeing it for
the first time. Let's say I've drawn my character, and I've been working on her
expression for so long that I don't know if it's right or not. That's when I
show it to myself in the mirror. I often find something new. Try it.

I have wonderful news since my March Hedge a gram. Stephanie, the little girl
that I'm going to use for the model for Mei-Mei in Happy Hens came over to our
house. Stephanie and I read the book dummy, which I had sent to her before, and
then she acted out the motions that the book character goes through. She was
just like I imagined my character, intelligent, thoughtful and determined about
planning a good future. In my book, Mei-Mei won't accept that a fisherman wants
to sell her dear hen. I can picture Stephanie coming to that same conclusion.
Stephanie also loved my hens and they liked her too. Hens aren't like a dog or
even a cat in their level of interaction with people, but they respond when a
person is gentle and soothing. They even like baby talk. Don't ask me how I know
that!

Now that it's Spring some of you may be getting your own chicks, or if you
already have hens maybe your hens will be hatching their own babies. I'd love to
hear your stories. Even if you don't have chicks, I'd like to hear about your
pets. Which reminds me, our hedgehog Buffy is just fine. She got to meet
Stephanie and her brother Terence too.